These pages are based in WW1 history. Some is factual, some is fiction based on the facts. There will be visits to Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries, Battlefields and towns and villages both on the Western Front and the Home Front.

Friday, 22 December 2017

Second Lieutenant 98773 Albert William Howard (Bert)
Purnell

Royal Garrison Artillery, 120th Seige Battery

Died
of Wounds 20th November 1917, Aged 24.

Albert William
Howard Purnell was born on the 19th April 1893 in Cappoquin Parish, Waterford,
Ireland. He was the eldest son of Walter Purnell from Trowbridge in Wiltshire and
his wife, Alice, nee Knowles.

Walter had taken
a job in 1899 as an engineer's clerk at Herbert Morris and Bastert Limited,
Empress Works, Loughborough. In 1900 Albert's brother, Howard George, was born
in Waterford, Ireland and in 1901 the whole family were living at 41 Queen's
Road, Loughborough.

On the 21st
January 1902, when Albert was eight, he joined the Loughborough Grammar School.
His father was then General Manager at the Empress Works. Albert's second
brother, Nelson Bruce, was born in Loughborough on the 2nd April 1906. On the
31st July 1907 Walter became a director of Herbert Morris and Bastert Limited
and in December that year Albert was 'top of the class' and his work was
'Excellent'.

Albert left the
Grammar School after seven years, on the 30th July 1909, when he was sixteen
and in the sixth form. He continued his education in Germany, specifically to
learn German and he went on to attend the State University at Köthen (Anhalt). The 1911
census shows that the family had moved to 64 Beacon Road, Loughborough and a
third son, Nelson, was then five years old. Albert took his diploma in
Engineering at the university and achieved honours in all subjects. He then returned
to England in 1913 and joined his father at the Empress Works.

Albert enlisted
soon after the outbreak of war and served with the Mechanical Transport Corps, leaving
for France in October 1914. The MTC was extremely important in its role of
maintaining supply as the armies advanced over difficult terrain. Mechanical
Transport Companies were not under orders of a Division although some were
attached to a given Division and worked very closely with it. The service
numbers of soldiers who served in the Mechanical Transport were usually
prefixed with the letter 'M'.

Albert then
returned to England and passed through officer training in Bournmouth. Not long
afterwards he took up a commission and on the 10th September 1917, in a
supplement to the London Gazette, the following appeared:

The undermentioned, from Officer Cadet Units, to be
2nd Lts. :-

ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLARY

19th August 1917

… Albert William Howard Purnell

Aged
twenty-four, Albert, known as Bert, left England with the Royal Garrison Artillery
in October 1917. He was serving with the 120th Siege Battery attached to the Royal
Garrison Artillary and in charge of an observation post close to the front line
when he was reported missing on the 13th November 1917. He had become a
prisoner of war. One week later, on the 20th November 1917, he died of wounds and
was buried in a German cemetery – Winkel St. Eloi Cemetery of Honour.

Bert was
identified from the GB list, clothing and cross and he was re-buried in Harlebeke
New British Cemetery on the 19th November 1923. The inscription on his headstone
reads: "He was the soul of honour."

He is remembered
on the Carillon Tower, The Baptist Church, Loughborough and Loughborough
Grammar School's Roll of Honour.

William Frederick Jelley was the only son of Police
Sergeant Charles William Jelley and his wife, Temperance. In 1891 Charles,
Temperance and their daughter, Mary, aged six, were living in Barrow upon Soar.
William Frederick Jelley was born on the 22nd August 1895 in Syston,
Leicestershire. Charles and Temperance had two more children, but sadly they
didn't survive.

In 1901 the family had moved to 193 Main Street,
Thurmaston and in 1909 they had moved again, to Loughborough, and were living
in Church Gate.

William attended the Intermediate School in
Loughborough and on the 28th September 1909, when he was fourteen, he moved on
to the Loughborough Grammar School where he stayed for four years. His school
report showed him to be a good scholar, except in French where he "could
do better". He joined the Sixth Form in 1911 and the family had moved to
36 Leopold Street, Loughborough. His French was still "very poor" but
his results in Mathematics were good. He left the Grammar School on the 30th
July 1913 when he was almost eighteen to become a student teacher. He was also
one of the founders of the Nanpantan Troop of Boy Scouts, of which he was
Scoutmaster.

When William Jelley was nineteen he had completed his
first year's teaching at the Church Gate Council School, and then war broke out
on the 4th of August 1914. William Jelley enlisted with the 8th Battalion of the
Leicestershire Regiment and on the 29th July 1915, after nearly a year's
training at Aldershot, the 8th Leicesters left camp for Folkestone to board the
troopship SS Golden Eagle, to take them to Boulogne, France. William Jelley
rose through the ranks from Private to Lance Serjeant.

On the 14th July 1916, the 8th Leicesters were to take
part in the battle of Bazentin Ridge and it was during this engagement, on the
15th July, that the now Serjeant Jelley received a gunshot wound to his left
arm. It took four days from being wounded to arrive back in England, via Base
Hospital at Rouen, and then hospital ship back to England. Whilst he was recovering, Serjeant Jelley
was put through a training course and early in 1917, he obtained a commission
with the 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, (Princess of Wales's Own), and
returned to the front a few weeks later.

Now an officer, Second
Lieutenant Jelley was once again wounded on the 14th August 1917.

The Battalion war diary
recorded the day’s events.

On 14th August 1917 at 3.00 am, outposts withdrawn to W
bank of STEENBEEK, and

Formed into preparatory to an advance, A’ Coy attacking on
the right with 2 half

Platoons and 1 half platoons in support, To occupy the old
line of posts, 2 platoons of B’ Coy immediately in rear to occupy a prepared
position on the W Bank of STEENBEEK. C’Coy on the left with 2 half platoons and
1 platoon in support to occupy old line of posts. At 4am the barrage came down
and the advanced commenced. C’ Coy gained their objective on the left, A’ Coy
held up on the right by hostile M.G. fire from dug outs untouched by
bombardment. Enemy delivered several small attacks during the day on A’ Coy,
which were easily repelled by rifle fire, intense shelling all day by enemy.
All night battalion relieved by 5th Dorset Regiment, who took up
positions on the W Bank of the STEENBEEK, outposts being withdrawn through
them. Casualties: 2nd Lieutenant C.S.M. WELDON and 2nd Lieutenant W. F. JELLEY
wounded, other ranks: 20 killed, 63 wounded, 26 missing.

When dark fell stretcher-bearers removed the young
officer from the field. Very badly wounded, Second Lieutenant Jelley was taken
first to the field dressing station then on to a casualty clearing station. He was then
transported to the No 2 British Red Cross Hospital in Rouen.

On the 22nd August his mother, Mrs. Temperance Jelley,
received a telegram from the War Office, which read:

Mr. Jelley received permission from Loughborough
Police station for him and his wife to travel from Loughborough to Rouen and he
made arrangements to journeythere to
see his son.

Upon arriving at the No. 2 Red Cross Hospital in
Rouen, Mr. and Mrs. Jelley visited William who was in a critical condition, the
gun-shot wound to his head was not life threatening, but the fracture to the
femur could cause complications. It was during this time, whilst in hospital,
that the news was conveyed on SecondLieutenant Jelley, that he had
been awarded the Military Cross for Bravery
in the Field on the 14th August.

One of the Royal Princes read his M.C. citation, which
was reported in the London Gazette on the 8th January 1918, to him.

Second
Lieutenant William Frederick Jelley, attd. York. Regiment.

For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in handling his platoon.

Although
wounded in the head he continued to lead his platoon until he had gained

his
objective. Later in the day, he was again wounded, having his thigh broken, but

although
in great pain and unable to move, he continued to urge on his men, and by his
splendid pluck and fortitude kept up their spirits until after dark, when he
was carried from the field.

During the first week of September, having returned back home to
Loughborough,

Mrs. Jelley received another Telegram from the War Office, stating their
son was still dangerously ill but that his condition was improved.

The improved condition only lasted two weeks. Mr. Jelley
received another telegram on the 20th October 1917 saying that his son was
again dangerously ill (severe relapse). Mr. Jelley returned to his son’s
bedside at Rouen, his wife stayed at home. While at his son’s side Mr. Jelley
gradually saw his son's condition worsen, necessitating an emergency operation,
on the 31st October, to have his leg and thigh amputated. Lieutenant Jelley’s
condition never improved and he passed away, in his

father’s presence, on the 2nd November 1917, aged just
22 years.

His mother received a telegram from the War Office,
which read: "Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lt. W. F. Jelley, York.
Reg., died of wounds, November second. The Army Council conveys their sympathy."

William Frederick Jelley's funeral took place the following
morning, at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen. His father was present to witness his
son being accorded full military honours. Second Lieutenant William Frederick
Jelley was interred in plot B. 4. Grave 14. The epitaph on his headstone reads:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course."

His will, that Lance Serjeant 12151, W. F. Jelley,
wrote and signed on the 28th July 1915, left £5 to his father, Charles William
Jelley of 124 Leopold Street, Loughborough, and the remaining property to his mother,
Temperence Jelley of the same address. On the 24th January she received £125
10s 2d.

As well as the Military Cross, Second Lieutenant
Jelley was awarded the 1915 Star, The Victory Medal and the British (Service)
Medal.

Second Lieutenant William Frederick Jelley is
remembered on the Carillon Tower War Memorial, St Peter's Church Roll of Honour
and Loughborough Grammar School's Roll of Honour.

Thursday, 14 December 2017

Second Lieutenant William Leslie Holt

York and Lancaster Regiment

Killed in Action 22nd December 1917

William Leslie
Holt was born in Leicester on the 7th March 1898, the son of Shropshire
born Reverend Alfred Holt, who was a clergyman of the Church of England, and
his wife Sarah Annie, who was the daughter of the late James and Mary Walters
of Derby.

In 1901, William was three years old and had three older
sisters, Margaret, sixteen, Dorothy, eleven and Milicent, seven. The family
were then living at 8 Upper King Street, Leicester. In 1901, when William was
thirteen, they had moved to The Vicarage, Holy Bones, Leicester and William's
father was also a schoolteacher with the Leicester borough Council Education
Authority.

William attended the Wyggeston Boys' School in Leicester
from 1905 until May 1911 when the family moved to The Oaks Vicarge, Oaks Road,
Charley, near Loughborough where Reverend Alfred Holt took up his post as Clerk
in Holy Orders. William's sister, Dorothy, died in 1911 and William joined the
Loughborough Grammar School on the 5th May 1911, when he was thirteen. He spent
five years at the school where he joined the school's cadet force. He left when
he was almost nineteen (eighteen years and eleven months) and his report card
states that he was 'called up to the Army' and joined the Nottingham University
O. T. C. He was later transferred to an Officer Cadet Unit in Oxford and his
enlistment date is recorded as 28th March 1917 with the 10th Battalion of the
York and Lancaster Regiment, when he was gazetted as Second Lieutenant. He
served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium from the 10th
May 1917. On the 15th July 1917 he was wounded near Ypres and was 'home on
leave' in November 1917. Three weeks later,

Second Lieutenant Holt was killed instantly by a shell. His
records show that he was killed in action on the 23rd December 1917 as does De
Ruvigney's Roll of Honour and some Commonwealth Ward Graves Commission
documents, although others and his headstone show Saturday, 22nd December 1917.

His Commanding Officer wrote: "I need hardly say he is
a loss to this Battalion, as he was so cheerful and willing to do anything for
anybody." Four brother officers, in a joint letter, stated: "Your son
proved himself a most excellent soldier and comrade."

An extract from The
Loughbrurian, the Magazine of Loughborough Grammar School stated: "He
was a mixture of strength and gentleness. Here he was liked and respected and
trusted by all."

William was just nineteen when he died.

Second Lieutenant William Leslie Holt is buried at
Spoilbank Military Cemerery, near Zillebeke in Belgium and the text on his
headstone reads:

I will go forth in the
strength of the Lord God. Ps LXX1.14.

William Holt is
remembered on the Loughborough Carillon Tower War Memorial, Shepshed War
Memorial, Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys Memorial, Leicester, Loughborough
Grammar School Memorial and the Roll of Honour in St. James the Greater Church,
Oaks in Charnwood.

Saturday, 21 October 2017

Sister Elise
Kemp is the only nurse from New Zealand to be killed in action and buried on
the Western Front during World War 1.

(Photograph courtesy of Sue Robinson and 'Wenches in Trenches')

Elise Margaret Kemp
was born on the 19th June 1881 in Wellington, New Zealand. Her father was Dr
William Kemp and her mother, Charlotte (nee Greenwood).

William Kemp was
originally from Northumberland and attended Durham University where he
qualified as a doctor of medicine. He went to work in Nelson, New Zealand as a
surgeon. It was whilst he was working here that he met his wife, Charlotte and
they were married in 1870. By this time William had moved to Wellington
hospital and the couple settled there. It is thought that William did become
New Zealand's Chief Medical Officer.

Not long after
Elise was born, the family travelled to London. Elise was William and
Charlotte's third daughter and she had five siblings.

In the 1901
census, William (54) and Charlotte (52), together with four of their children,
Violet (23), Elise (19), Kathleen (17), Charles (16) together with a domestic
servant and a cook, were living at 38 Alwyn Road, West Dulwich, London. Although
Elise's elder sister and brother are not listed, so they may have stayed in New
Zealand.

Elise Kemp
entered King's College Hospital's nursing school when she was twenty-three and
qualified after four year's of training. When war broke out, on the 4th August
1914, Elise became a member of the Territorial Forces Nursing Service and her
brothers joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. Elise served in London until
January 1916 when she was posted to the Western Front and worked in the 58th Casualty
Clearing Station, known as West Riding
CCS, which was located in Lillers, France between October 1915 and April 1918.

Although Sister
Kemp was attached to the 58th CCS she was on duty at the 37th CCS, which was
temporarily at Godewaersvelde from July to November 1917. During the evening of
the 20th October 1917, and without warning, the 37th CCS was targeted and
bombed by German aeroplanes. Sister Kemp and three of her patients were killed
when a shell landed close to the tent they were in. Three orderlies died that
night too and many were wounded.

Sister Elise
Margaret Kemp was said to be "a splendid nurse who was loved and admired
by all who were privileged in knowing her."

She is buried at
Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, which is in Northern France, very close to the
Belgian border.

Godewaersvelde British Cemetery affectionately known as 'Gertie wears velvet'.

Sister Elise Margaret Kemp

Wenches in Trenches - Roses of No Man's Land - details women casualties of the Great War in Military Cemeteries.